After some pain, noticing some dense tissue and that my breast looked different, I visited my midwife who ultimately recommended a mammogram. That led to biopsies on June 10 and an ultrasound that revealed a mass, which was also biopsied.
June 14 I was officially diagnosed with cancer with more details yet to be revealed. In the week since, we have learned it's inflammatory and invasive -- throughout my entire breast. It's considered Stage 3.
We met with a surgeon June 21 who explained how invasive the cancer is as well as two major factors that help determine the course of action. First, we learned that the HER2 oncogene is present, which only appears in 1 in 5 cancers of this kind. That means that it's far more aggressive. On Monday, June 27 I had surgery to insert a port for easy IV access. On July 7 I will begin chemotherapy -- every three weeks for 18 weeks. During chemo, I'll get two drugs that specifically target the HER2 genes. After chemo is done, I will continue to receive one of the HER2 drugs every three weeks for 7 1/2 more months.
Within a month of chemo ending I will be having a mastectomy as well as radiation, but there's lots more to determine there in the next few months.
We also know the cancer is estrogen receptor positive, meaning it's fed by estrogen and is also more aggressive because of that. After surgery, I will be put on medication that will put me into early menopause, thereby cutting off its supply. I will stay on this medication for the next 10 years.
I will be working with a naturopathic oncologist alongside my regular oncologists. He will be helping to support me so I'm as healthy as I can be while going through treatment, doing things to help offset the side effects of chemotherapy and medication, etc. He has me taking many different supplements that will support my vital organs (which can be hit hard by chemo), my immune system, help me sleep, etc. I'm very grateful to know doctors like this exist, to have been referred to a great one and for my oncologist to welcome it.